Kulgam, Oct 26: A forest fire in the Lammer area of the Kulgam range was contained after extensive efforts, and no major damage was caused, officials said.
Suhail Ahmad, Ranger Officer (RO) of the Forest Division Kulgam, said that the fire began in the Brinal Lammer Forests of Forest Range Kulgam on October 19, primarily affecting two compartments, 32N and 33N.
He said that the forest fire started in Compartment 33N and later spread to Compartment 32N.
“After the concerted efforts of the concerned territorial staff, Forest Protection Force, and Social Forestry, the forest fire was completely brought under control on October 24. It was a ground fire in nature, which typically damages herbs and shrubs on the forest floor and disturbs the natural habitat of the fauna present in the area,” RO Kulgam said.
He added that the main cause of these fires is due to some miscreants, primarily clearing litter from the forest floor to encourage fresh grass growth for livestock during the summer season.
“An investigation is underway to identify the culprits, who will be prosecuted according to the law very soon,” he said, adding that the local population near forest areas must recognize the long-term negative impact of forest fires and discourage any attempts to ignite fires intentionally.
RO Kulgam further said that the lack of precipitation and continuous dry spell in the Kashmir region pose a serious challenge in managing forest fires.
